Knee Replacement

Knee replacement, or knee arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure that replaces the weight-bearing surfaces of the knee joint with metal and plastic components shaped to allow continued motion, used most often to relieve the pain and disability of osteoarthritis but also performed for rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis; osteoporosis alone does not warrant the surgery, since it typically causes no knee pain, deformity or inflammation on its own. The operation can be performed as either a partial or a total replacement, and it becomes considerably more complex and carries higher risk in patients with severe deformity from advanced rheumatoid arthritis, trauma or long-standing osteoarthritis. Recovery involves substantial postoperative discomfort and demanding physical rehabilitation, typically extending beyond twelve weeks and often requiring a walker, cane or crutches, though long-term durability is favorable, with roughly 82 percent of total knee replacements lasting 25 years.